Howard Gluss radio show on celebrity death

I'm set to appear on the Howard Gluss radio show Friday night at 8 PM PST where we'll discuss how people cope with celebrity death. It seems that we are somehow intertwined with celebrities in our lives, even those of us whose lives don't revolve around them. I admit that I have been affected by MJ's death. I was never a big fan although my sister and I watched his videos over and over (there was one channel that seemed to play the same group of videos all the time). But I am not heartbroken like I heard one woman crying on the radio the evening he died when I was driving to get some take out for dinner. It's a loss and affects people. And it needs to be acknowledged so that people can cope. My hope is that MJ took away from this life what he was supposed to learn.

Farrah, Michael, Denise, and Bonnie

When I found out that Farrah Fawcett had anal cancer, I was taken back to the cancer of my friend Bonnie who died 3 1/2 years ago. I was with Bonnie almost everyday, as long as I was in town, until her death a few months later. Today is my 10th wedding anniversary and it was Bonnie who sewed my wedding dress. Bonnie had the same cancer as Farrah. I had a Farrah haircut in fifth grade and my older sister was a big "Charlie's Angels" fan. My cousins had a gerbil named Farrah. Farrah was part of my 1970s. After I found out Farrah died yesterday, I had a hard time wrapping my head around it. I knew it was coming but sometimes it's hard to imagine someone we saw as so strong and beautiful as having deteriorated and then dying. After my husband told me about Michael Jackson's death, I thought back to my sister Denise. I was coming of age when "Thriller" came out and I sware Denise had a "PYT" shirt (I can't confirm this since my mom doesn't remember!). I never owned the "Thriller" tape but I think she did. His songs were at the top of the charts as we ambled through school and adolescence, our teen years, and life. As Dick Clark says about music on general, for us MJ's songs are on the soundtracks of our lives. Each time something that is part of my history, part of my life, ends or dies, especially when it relates to my sister or my dad or Bonnie or anyone else in my life who has died, I feel like another little piece of my life is chipped away. I hold the memories but that's it. I can't grasp the rest of it with my arms because it's not here anymore. But I am always reminded that these people have left because they accomplished what they were supposed to teach us and it was time to go. We are sad because they are gone but they all left us something behind. We wouldn't feel a need to let any emotion escape via tears or sadness if they didn't.

Mulling over scenes for the Ginger's Gift screenplay

I've been mulling over scenes for the Ginger's Gift screenplay in the last week. While writing a screenplay and making a movie has been on my list of things that I have wanted to do since I was oh, probably 13, this is the first time I'm attempting it. I have been reading the "Marley & Me" screenplay to use as a guide and it's interesting to see what was supposed to be shot and what actually turned into the movie. What I struggle with most as I do this, is how do I make it as close to the book as possible? I always see how books change as they are made into movies and now I'm understanding the true difficulty of this because it needs to be a powerful screenplay yet be true to my story. More to come as I continue to form and mold my notes into a piece of work.

Father's Day, Michelle Style without my Dad

Today is Father's Day, a time when we traditionally buy dad a gift of something he wants (not needs!). If you spend enough time looking at the newspaper ads and the commercials on tv, you'll know that these things could be clothes, grilling supplies, sports equipment, even a new drill. But for those of us without a dad here on earth, it's a sad day. Each time I push my cart through Target on my way to the food section, I pass the greeting card aisle where I'm reminded that there is no card to buy my dad anymore. I see the ones with grills or the argyle sweaters and I want to grab and them and pick them. Until I remember I don't have anyone to send one to. Instead, today I will make samosas and read the Marley & Me script (we're getting ready to start the Ginger's Gift screenplay) at my pool in the sunshine. My dad is with me, I am sure of that, but it's not quite the same without him to call and have a chat about the bugs that are eating my sunflowers and the price of gas. To everyone who has experienced a father loss, I'm thinking of you today.

Happy 5th birthday Daisy!

Daisy turned five today. It's hard to believe that we've had her that long and it's hard to believe that just 4 1/2 years ago, I brought her home after she followed a race walker at a 5K I was running in. I really didn't expect to keep her but I can't imagine life without her although most times she could do without me since I'm the one who chases her around the house to be brushed, put meds in ears/down her throat, and trims her nails. We had the house appraised for a refi today and I took all four dogs in the car to see Joe Sausage during the appraisal. Everyone did well although they were exhausted when we got back and Nestle could barely keep her eyes open while she was in the pool (although that didn't keep her from barking when I was on the phone with Mom a bit later...). They all are passed out in various places of the house now. I got Daisy a Three Dog Bakery cake and you can see in the photos that Nestle knew exactly what was in the box. While we gave Daisy first bite of the cake, each dog got a piece.

Video about a Family's Grief...Years Later

This video was made by fellow sibling survivor and filmmaker Jeff Orgill about his family years following his brother’s suicide. Jeff created the video for the AAS conference in April where he was speaking on a panel about men’s grief. Please check it out and pass it along.

Article from Australia that quotes me

This article just appeared June 11 (although it's still June 10 here in New Mexico!) in Australia.

Wilson comes to swim

Jim Zim, Chaco's founder, came to visit today with his old roommate Matt and Matt's dog Wilson. Wilson is 125-pound Newfie. I admit I am worn out and it's 5:20 and my friend is Virginia is due any time for dinner. My dogs are pretty boring when someone comes to visit. I'm not sure what it is. Do they only like to play with each other? It's a little embarrassing. Wilson did a Chaco and Daisy, he likes rivers and lakes but was leery of the pool. Didn't really like the ball but liked the stick. Matt finally got him to at least go to the second step to retrieve the stick.

A few more Australia photos

I found these on my camera. They were taken at dusk of the Yarra River in Melbourne. Note the rowers! It reminded me a lot of Boston.

Watermelon

As Father's Day approaches, I always am reminded by the cards at Target. No matter where I am, Chicago or Naperville, the cards with the cardigan sweaters or the Weber grills are reminders that I don't have a dad to buy a card for. Not that we ever were big on Father's Day, but I do admit I miss picking out a silly card for my dad. I bought my first watermelon of the season last week. I thought I had done a good job with my thump until I came home and discovered I had bought an under ripe watermelon. I think I'm out of practice. The smell alone though took me back to Saturday mornings in Naperville. Usually Dad would buy a watermelon and Denise and I would cut what we called "slabs" and eat them. I also think of Wimbledon about this time as well even though it's a little early. Must be something about the warm weather. Back to the watermelon, last summer someone introduced our dogs to the rind and now Nestle is addicted. Of course the only food she's ever turned down is lettuce. She and Daisy are both happy to eat the rind and wait until I'm done, which takes awhile to eat a slab, you know, to give each one to them. Hopefully the wind and clouds will stay away today long enough for us to swim. Jim, Chaco's founder, came by last week while he was in town and surprised us, making Chaco a happy dog in the process. I was showing Stacy, Jim's girlfriend, the pool before the three of us went to dinner and Nestle decided she was going for a swim. She doesn't do that too often and I realized she needs more pool time. If the weather would be more cooperative, she would get it!